RP triples rice yield – IRRI

MANILA, Feb. 19 – The Philippines has more than tripled its rice yield in the last 50 years, while the world average rice yield has increased only about 2.3 times, according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based in Los Baños, Laguna.

IRRI officials said despite being criticized as a poor rice producer because of its status as the world’s biggest rice importer, the Philippines has actually done remarkably well in raising its rice yields from 1.16 tons per hectare in 1960 to 3.59 tons per hectare in 2009.

“2009, Philippine rice yields were actually lower than the previous two years due to the damage done by the tropical storms 'Ondoy' and 'Pepeng'. In 2007, average rice yields topped 3.8 tons per hectare and in 2008 they were 3.77 tons per hectare,” said Dr. William Padolina, IRRI deputy director general for operations.

Padolina said rice yields in the Philippines are also higher than those in Thailand, the world's biggest exporter of rice, where yields over the last few years have been around 3 tons per hectare.

“The Philippines has enthusiastically taken up rice science technologies that have helped farmers dramatically increase their yields,” said Padolina.

“Filipino farmers have adopted more than 75 IRRI-bred high-yielding rice varieties since 1960, have greatly improved their fertilizer and pest management strategies, and are implementing water-saving technologies,” he added. (PNA) LAP/JCA

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